Rhythm and Reflexes (or, Why We Rock Babies)

The dramatic rise in diagnoses of learning and behavioral “disorders” appears larger each year. As an elementary teacher, I’m always watching for signs of learning difficulties and ways to address each students’ needs within the classroom day and with tools at hand. I was intrigued when I learned of certain therapeutic activities used in Waldorf curriculums that treated both academic and postural problems with patterned large motor skills. It led me to explore the connection between rhythmic movement and brain development. I discovered the work of Peter Blythe and Sally Goddard Blythe at the Institute for Neuro-physiological Psychology in England. Their research on infant reflexes reveals a link between skipped stages of movement and later complications with physical, emotional and behavioral development.

Babies all over the world are genetically programmed to move their tiny bodies in specific ways. Some of these reflexes begin in utero, others appear after birth. Most of them help to prepare the baby for its trip down the birth canal (in which it is an active participant), for breathing air, navigating in gravity (vestibular sense), and generally getting adjusted to life outside the womb. Many of these reflexes aid the child in raising itself upright, creeping and crawling and eventually walking. Tied in with this is the development and integration of all the senses: touch, temperature, vision, sound, and a sense of the self in open space (proprioception). Fully adapting to the “outside” world takes the brain/body at least a couple of years, and requires lots of sensory stimulation. The role of the reflexes in this is critical: as each one appears, and is practiced over weeks or months, it evolves into the next stage of movement, and the infant’s brain lays down the neural foundation for subsequent development. A weak foundation, or underdeveloped reflexes, means the rest of the construction may be unstable. That instability may manifest in balance and coordination problems, difficulty orienting in space, or a number of other symptoms.

Read Baby’s First Month by movement specialist Valerie Baadh Garrett, on another blog on this site.

As an example, the Moro reflex, one of the earliest to begin developing in the fetus, prepares the infant for its first “breath of life”. Premature babies delivered prior to 30 weeks will not have fully developed this reflex, and this may account for a high incidence of lung complications among preemies. The reflex is activated in response to a sudden surprise or even a change in head position: there is a sudden intake of oxygen (often followed by a cry), the arms are thrown up symmetrically with a quick opening of the hands and slight freeze before the limbs curl back in to a more protective position. It normally transforms into the Adult Startle Reflex, in which the trigger causes a quick shoulder shrug followed by a turn of the head to find the source. Once the disturbance is identified, the infant will return to its previous activity or respond to the disruption. If the Moro Reflex persists beyond the neonatal stage, the child may be extremely sensitive to all stimuli in the environment, unable to focus, and constantly “on alert”. This reflex is associated with the lowest brain stem area, the place we go when we “freeze up”. The body/brain cannot efficiently discriminate serious threats from mild ones, so the child may be in perpetual “fight or flight” mode. Because the Moro Reflex signals the body to increase heart rate and elevate adrenaline and cortisol, the child with a retained Moro may be very aggressive; conversely, he may be extremely withdrawn, silent or immobile. This continual state of stress taxes the immune system, and the child may be prone to illness, allergies and infections. All these symptoms would certainly interfere with school life.

The normal development of the reflexes may be disrupted through trauma (including surgery), stress (particularly the mother’s), injury, or even just lack of opportunity (as with the Eastern European “warehouse” orphans or children who just walk very early). When this happens, the body/brain continues to seek chances to “practice” the movement, even if its original purpose is no longer relevant. The most logical remedy then, is to give that movement plenty of time to continue their unfinished work. This is just what is advocated by the INPP, and many others as well. Dr. Harald Blomberg, a Swedish psychiatrist, developed Rhythmic Movement Training (RMT), an approach to address retained reflexes based on the work of his colleague, Kirsten Linde. It involves patterned repetition of these movements as needed on an individual basis. With older children and adults, the movements are supplemented with isometric pressure, a method developed by Russian psychologist, Svetlana Masgutova.

I recently attended a 3-day workshop on RMT for preschoolers and kindergardeners conducted by Sheri Hoss, M.Ed., an education and movement specialist. She is also a consultant for Brain Gym, another system that integrates physical stimulation with academic, emotional and behavioral skills. Most of the participants were occupational therapists, though a couple of us were teachers. We spent hours screening each other for retained reflexes and then practicing the remedial exercises recommended by Dr. Blomberg. Some involved a care-giver gently rocking a passive child/client, and other movements could be done on one’s own, with partners or in groups. Our instructor emphasized checking in with the test subject about their comfort level and remaining observant for signs of stress or difficulty. Some of the exercises may elicit emotional responses, even regression, because of their stimulation of lower brain regions. We practiced synchronizing our breathing and pace with that of our partner, which made the passive exercises much smoother and more relaxing. Those of us who had exhibited signs of retained reflexes experienced improvements immediately following just brief practice, though Dr. Blomberg suggests it may take several months to fully inhibit a strongly retained reflex.

I was not surprised to see that many of the exercises were familiar to me from yoga and tai chi. I had also encountered similar movements through different subject teachers at Rudolf Steiner College, a Waldorf teacher training center. Much of the remedial work done in Waldorf schools uses very similar gestures (Spacial Dynamics® or Extra-Lesson for example), and draws heavily on the healing nature of rhythm. Rhythm is a fundamental component of Dr. Blomberg’s program: a gentle, relaxed, steady motion seems to be crucial to stimulating the corresponding brain centers. Given that our development from the moment of conception is guided by all the biological rhythms of our mother, it’s no surprise that this is a powerful therapeutic element. The curative potential of rhythm is something I’d encountered already in the whole Waldorf approach to education: the teacher takes into account the rhythms of the seasons, the week, the day, the children themselves. Patterned rhythms are built into the games, the form drawings, the recited verses, and the bean-bag exercises that are done each day.

“Rocking, swinging, swaying are all excellent rhythmic movements to foster the integration of the primal reflexes, and should be experienced as often as possible by young children; in fact, fundamental movements are valuable at every age.” – Valerie Baadh Garrett

Healing rituals of numerous cultures involve rhythmic drumming or chanting. Rhythm is also strongly recommended by Dr. Bruce Perry, PhD., in his ground-breaking treatment of traumatized children. Working with neuro-sequential (from the “bottom” to the “top”) goals, his approach emphasizes predictable rhythms in the child’s routines but he has also literally prescribed dance and music classes to his patients. His book, “The Boy Who Was Raised As A Dog”, describes several case studies in which patients had to “go back” to where healthy development was delayed and process there until the brain’s early need is fulfilled. In “The Brain That Changes Itself”, author and doctor Norman Doidge describes a stroke victim who learns to walk again by returning to creeping and crawling stages first, developing a rhythmic pattern of left and right, rewiring his brain along a path it had already used once before with success. His experiences with the plasticity of the brain even at later ages are inspiring and hopeful.

The wisdom of the old lyrics “Get Rhythm (When You Get the Blues!)” bounces around in my head as I think about this unfolding of human potential, emerging as it has for ages, to the steady, universal beat of our hearts and breathing, the tides, stars and seasons. Rhythmic Movement Training deepened my understanding of the importance of each stage in that unfolding. I’m taking away a repertoire of wonderful games and activities to share with my dear students and friends, but I’ve also been given the reminder to follow and not rush the rhythm of nature.

Swinging creates a healing motion and rhythm that helps organize the senses

About the author Kathy Fraser. “I’m a K-2 teacher at an independent community school in rural California. It runs on solar panels, firewood, volunteer sweat and lots of bake sales and raffles (we are locally famous for our prolific quilts). I have a tiny, mixed-age classroom of 10 kids and they love to eat, do real work and be outside! We take long hikes, have discoveries and discussions, visit neighbors, cook, make music, and go barefoot a lot.”

Valerie Baadh Garrett shares fundamental movements of the first years of the child will be featured in the upcoming A Child’s Journey workshop series in San Francisco on January 31, and April 16, 2015, and at 2015 Movement In Education Week at Westside Waldorf School, Pacific Palisades, CA February 15-18, 2015. – VBG

Movements That Heal by Harald BlombergA Teacher’s Window Into the Child’s Mind and The Well-Balanced Child by Sally Goddard BlytheDisconnected Kids by Dr. Robert MelilloTake Time by Jean HuntSmart Moves by Carla Hannaford

11 Comments

Kathy Fraser
on August 5, 2013 at 8:21 pm

Thank you for this forum, Valerie. I’m so glad you put “Games” at the top of the book list: that is an invaluable resource for anyone working with children. It details why we use particular games and songs at each stage of development and is arranged very clearly for reference. A must read from cover-to-cover!

Reddi Lewis
on August 6, 2013 at 8:49 pm

Thank you Kathy for this informative article. I am excited to see resources in addition to Bruce Perry on this approach. If you ever do classes or workshops on these topics please let me know, as I would like very much to learn and participate. Thanks again, Reddi Lewis

Kathy Fraser
on August 25, 2013 at 4:12 am

Thanks for reading, Reddy, and I am hoping for a collaborative workshop next summer. Fishing for local interest…!

Kathy Fraser
on August 25, 2013 at 4:30 am

Reddi, sorry. Did you attend Dr. Perry’s lecture at HSU in May? I think his work with neuro-sequential therapy is perfectly in line with Rhythmic Movement. I’d like to see his trauma center collaborate with the Blythes and their work in England.

Reddi Lewis
on August 31, 2013 at 11:56 pm

Yes I did see Bruce Perry. I feel blessed to have found this way of looking at, and healing traumatized children.

Kelly Stettner
on August 9, 2013 at 1:02 pm

Very interesting insights, Kathy; you’ve given me lots of food for thought.

Kathy Fraser
on August 25, 2013 at 4:26 am

There’s a lot to digest here, I agree, Kel! And it’s really only the briefest summary of this field of study. I’m finding it has implications for so many other aspects of development. There is much to learn!

Maryska@nc.rr.com
on August 16, 2013 at 1:24 pm

Dear Kathy
A wonderful article for me to read the day before I am to begin teaching a Body-Mind Centering course: Primitive Reflexes, Righting Reactions and Equilibrium Responses in Claremont CA with adults who teach in educational, artistic, therapeutic, and athletic settings.
I would like to comment that it is perhaps the Autonomic Nervous System or ANS which is so fond of rhythm (brain stem – responsible for resporation, corculation and digestion rhythms) that needs to be reset when life has been too abrupt. Yes, of course, drumming or rhythmic activites can be employed but also quiet parasympathetic state activites which re-establish (thanks to Upledger) now familiar Cranial-sacral movements with rhythmic internal and external rotation of limbs acting on the trunk. PNF patterns are worth looking into!
Stay in touch, Maryska Bigos

Kathy Fraser
on August 25, 2013 at 4:18 am

That workshop sounds intriguing, too, Maryska! It’s encouraging and exciting to see other variations on this theme. I’d like to hear about your experience in Claremont…

Tracey Tinker
on August 3, 2014 at 3:40 am

Loved this story. I learnt about the reflexes when I took my son to a Brain Gym practitioner in Australia. He mentioned the Moro reflex and when I looked at the symptoms of this reflex it described my son exactly. He has since been diagnosed with Aspergers. This program changed my sons life. Since then I have learnt Brain Gym, Rhythmic Movements and Svetlana’s course. All of which are wonderful.

Valerie
on August 3, 2014 at 2:30 pm

Thanks, Tracey, for your comments. I’m so happy you’ve been able to find supportive programs for your family.
With joy in movement, Valerie